While I've never had the opportunity to spar against a guy in a tournament, I have sparred almost all of the guys in my class.

Early on in my training, I found that most of them held back when sparring. I don't know if it was because of my rank or my gender, but it really annoyed me. For instance, one student would kick over my head rather than kicking me in the head and say "point". I would much rather have had him kick me in the head. I would have learned much quicker to protect my head if he had.

Now thankfully, they treat me like one of the guys, and attack just as hard as they do anyone else.

I would have to say though, that the girl I fought at the last tournament, hit harder than anyone I've fought before. In class or in competition.

I'm still a white belt and pretty much clueless about some things that I do and I think the coloured belt guys know it, so they sometimes go easy. I guess I'll have to work my way up and see how it goes then.

For now, my sparring partner (also a white-belt girl) and I go all out on each other, especially in submission. Maybe it's because we're of the same gender and level and started around the same time.

Not to make this sound bad, but I'm 13, short and not all that powerful. my last tournament I was fight men older than me, taller than me- adult black belts, 1st-3rd degrees. AND I WON. I beat every single one of them in point sparring. my point being, jsut because we're girls DOES NOT MEAN WE CAN'T FIGHT JSUT AS WELL AS GUYS.

In a way, I think that in sparring, it technically isn't hitting a girl. I've found that light taps, if succesful contact is made, are efficient. I've won tournaments using open fist techiniques, barely nudging the girls I was fighting. Point being- it's a competition, you punch or kick anyone as hard you want.

nah, that's the beauty of Martial Arts, it doesn't matter if ur a girl or guy, short or small. Martial Arts is SKILL, not brute strength. For instance in war, it's tactics and not pure numbers or brute force.

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Use no way as way: JKD. Martial Arts is a way of life.